Camouflage net

ABSTRACT

A camouflage net is provided with a base material in the form of a formed-loop knit of polyester fiber, having fractions of metal and plastic in fiber or pigment form and with a camouflage color coating. The polyester formed-loop knit incorporates metal-sheathed polyamide fibers and optionally polyamide fibers comprising electroconductive pigments.

[0001] This invention relates to a camouflage net having a base material in the form of a formed-loop knit of polyester fiber, having fractions of metal and plastic in fiber or pigment form and having a camouflage color coating.

[0002] A camouflage net of the kind described is known, for example from EP 0 468 173 B1. It consists of a polyester fiber base material in the form of a loop-formingly knitted material into which metal fibers are inlaid. Above the polyester fiber knit containing metal fibers is disposed a polyurethane polymer layer which contains carbon absorber pigments. The polymer layer is rendered flame retardant and additionally coated with an infrared camouflage color.

[0003] The previously known camouflage net is effective not only against detection in radar and thermal imaging but also against detection in the near infrared region.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to further improve a camouflage net of the kind described, especially with regard to its effectiveness and its handling in use.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention when the polyester formed-loop knit incorporates metal-sheathed polyamide fibers.

[0006] The use of metal-sheathed or metalized polyamide instead of the previous metal fibers provides larger surface areas while retaining a percentage basis weight of the incorporated metal and hence also a larger reflective area. The metalized polyamide fibers incorporated in the polyester formed-loop knit provide a distinctly improved result in relation to radar absorption and scattering, ie a superior directional independence.

[0007] The incorporation of metalized polyamide, preferably disposed randomly or in various directions in the formed-loop knit, distinctly improves the radar attenuation values. The metalized polyamide fibers, which are responsible for any reflection, provide a distinctly superior scattering effect than the previously known metal fibers, which were predominantly oriented in one direction.

[0008] In a very advantageous refinement of the invention, the formed-loop knit may additionally incorporate polyamide fibers comprising electroconductive pigments or fibers to achieve the requisite absorption of radar beams. This measure saves one layer, namely the polymer layer, compared with the known camouflage net. The many-layered construction and the many-layered add-on plies in the case of the known camouflage net could lead to varying dependencies in relation to the employment of the binder quantity required therefor and the flame retardant system, and this was in some instances a disadvantage for the effectiveness of the camouflage net.

[0009] Moreover, dispensing with the polymer layer makes the camouflage net as a whole lighter and easier to handle as a result. This means at the same time that the camouflage net of this invention already possesses basic attenuation for IR reflection and thus that the printing colors for a camouflage layer and for flame retardancy require a reduced fraction of carbon and hence binder quantities. In addition, the camouflage net of this invention also becomes more flexible as a result.

[0010] In a further advantageous development of this invention, the formed-loop knit composite additionally incorporates a horizontal inlay comprising polyester fibers and polyamide fibers which are metal sheathed and/or provided with electroconductive pigments or fibers.

[0011] This measure of this invention provides even superior effectiveness and utility to the camouflage net.

[0012] Advantageous refinements and further developments will be apparent from the remaining subclaims and from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in principle below with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows an enlarged outline representation of the camouflage net according to this invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a detail of a polyester fiber with polyamide fibers in a much enlarged representation;

[0015]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail as per III from FIG. 2; and

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a similar enlarged detail as depicted in FIG. 3 featuring another cross-sectional shape for the polyamide fiber.

[0017]FIG. 1 shows, in outline representation, a base material which is a formed-loop knit of polyester fibers 1 which has been constructed in known manner from pillar and inlay. The inlay, as well as the polyester fibers 1, includes metal-sheathed polyamide fibers 2 a and polyamide fibers 2 b having electroconductive pigments 3 on the surface of the polyamide fibers. The metalization of the polyamide fibers 2 a is accomplished by providing a coat or sheath of conductive metal 4 over the polyamide fibers 2 a, for which the metal may be applied by electroplating. An example of a useful metal is silver with or without aluminum. As is evident from FIG. 3, the polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b may have a round cross section. Alternatively, they may also have a trilobal cross-sectional shape or a cross-sectional shape in the manner of a three-leaf clover.

[0018] The polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b with their metal sheathing 4 or with their pigments 3 are incorporated into the formed-loop knit randomly or in zigzag shape. The pillar stitches of the formed-loop knit are generally formed from polyester fibers 2 only.

[0019] The polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b, which are distinctly thinner in cross section than the polyester fibers 1, can be 6,6 monofilaments. The layer thickness of the polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b can be between 0.5 and 2.0μ and preferably is 1.0μ.

[0020] The conductivity of the electroconductive polyamide fibers 2 b with their carbon pigments 3 can preferably be between 3×10³ to 35×10³ Ω/cm.

[0021] The linear density of the polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b can preferably be from 0.13 denier to 0.64 denier.

[0022] The weight fraction of the polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b in the formed-loop knit composite can be for example in the range from 3% to 15%.

[0023] It will be appreciated that other values and fractions are also possible within the scope of the invention.

[0024] In addition, the formed-loop knit may incorporate an inserted weft 6 composed of polyester fibers. Here too the polyester fibers 1 can be twisted with polyamide fibers 2 a, which are sheathed with metal 4, and/or with polyamide fibers 2 b, which are provided with carbon pigments 3.

[0025] The formed-loop knit composite of polyester fibers 1 and polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b is bothsidedly provided with a flame-retardant coating 7 in known manner in such a way that the polyester fibers 1 and the polyamide fibers 2 a and 2 b are encased by the flame retardant on virtually all sides. In addition, a camouflage color print 8 can be applied to at least one side of the formed-loop knit. The manner of the camouflage color print 8 depends on the nature of the terrain for which the camouflage net is to be used. In open terrain, the camouflage colors used will usually be mottled green/brown in summer and a white ground color in winter. If desired, the camouflage net can also be printed with different camouflage colors on each side, for different deployments. 

What is claim di:
 1. A camouflage net having a base material in the form of a formed-loop knit of polyester fiber, having fractions of metal and plastic in fiber or pigment form and having a camouflage color coating, characterized in that the polyester formed-loop knit (1) incorporates metal-sheathed polyamide fibers (2 a).
 2. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the polyester formed-loop knit (1) incorporates polyamide fibers (2 b) comprising electroconductive pigments or fibers (3).
 3. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) are randomly distributed in the polyester fiber formed-loop knit (1).
 4. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) are disposed in zigzag shape in the polyester fiber formed-loop knit (1).
 5. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) are monofilaments.
 6. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that 6,6 monofilaments are provided.
 7. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) have a round cross section.
 8. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) have a trilobal cross section.
 9. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) are incorporated in a layer from 0.5 to μ and preferably 1μ in thickness.
 10. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the weight fraction of the polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) in the formed-loop knit composite is in the range from 3% to 15%.
 11. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the electroconductivity of the polyamide fibers (2 b) provided with carbon pigments (3) or carbon fibers is between 3×10³ to 35×10³ W.
 12. A camouflage net as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the metal sheath is a conductive metal (4) and preferably silver.
 13. A camouflage net as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the formed-loop knit composite additionally incorporates a horizontal inlay (6) comprising polyester fibers (1) and polyamide fibers (2 a, 2 b) which are metal sheathed and/or provided with electroconductive pigments (3) or fibers. 